Nokia’s announcement of their N1 Tablet seems to have taken everyone by surprise including Microsoft (which purchased their mobile-devices business). Like Surface, which has been a commercial failure, whether it is a hit-or-miss is unknown.
(Source) BBC: http://goo.gl/tkFJ1R
This is an example of an almost surreal success-story; irrational excess and/or perhaps a bit of both (and, then some!) Whatever the case may be, this firm’s success demonstrates that consumers associate with micro-brands… how long before they become ‘uncool’ is another issue…
(Source) Wired: http://goo.gl/beWFlt
The ever-increasing, bizarre, post-9/11 American paranoia just seemingly keeps getting more and more surreal… way to go AT&T; thanks for NOT protecting your subscriber’s identities!
(Source) Seattle Times: http://goo.gl/mrRsR2
Congrats to a 5-year old whose now formally recognized by Microsoft as the youngest, computer specialist in the world!
(Source) BBC: http://goo.gl/RVfEHB
Leave it to Redmond to tout the merits of Skype (one of countless acquisitions that Microsoft has made throughout the years) whereas the ‘featured’ guest was no other than Apple’s MacBook!?
(Source) CNET: http://goo.gl/h5W8KY
Landing a space probe i.e., comet on the surface of a comet… nothing short of incredible!
(Source) Wired: http://goo.gl/kVpVgX
Has anyone else noticed that Amazon’s Echo just so happened to be released right before the Christmas season (as if the firm would’ve timed it otherwise!?) Merry Snooping…
Given that Amazon Prime subscribers (if selected) can purchase Echo for $100.00 off, one has to wonder: a) how many additional (Prime) subscribers the firm has gotten since this announcement; b) how much more content the firm is hoping to push as a result of both subscription increases as well as end-users utilizing Echo and/or; c) something else?
Assuming that Amazon’s Echo is a success, there are a number of variables to contend with. For example, content. It’s clear that the company is pushing for an end-to-end integration via said device; however, what happens if a request for such is not available? Will Echo allow any given end-user to access it by the device itself? Or, be forthright about the fact that is it not accessible?
Leaving that aside, what about Echo’s ‘relationship’ with children under 18? Obviously, this is not going to be without controversy regarding accessing content / information, etc. that is considered age-inappropriate (tabling the issue of protecting children and securing their safety which are also interrelated). This is potentially another variable that the company is going to have to take into consideration (putting it mildly) that’s too detailed to cover herein. Nevertheless, this area is potentially an Achilles heel for the device.
Granted, a first-generation device of this nature is / will not be without limitations. Yet, if humanity continues down the path of more fully integrating AI into our world there’s still a lot to be sorted out / unanticipated and/or unknown to take into consideration.
Agreed, while the thought of having an AI-assistant is arguably every Trekkie’s dream… think about the potential implications in the post-Snowden-era when (inevitably) a bug and/or some sort of malware is introduced into said devices ecosystem? Leaving that and fatalistic / pessimistic scenarios aside (if possible) this seems like a dream-come-true for a myriad of paranoid governmental / quasi-governmental / private security interests, etc. regarding the access to the private lives of countless citizens that just might (rather unsuspectedly) be subject to (even greater / more intrusive levels of) surveillance that they may have not been subjected to otherwise (sans said device being introduced / utilized within their household).
